Kuhl: "A lot of talent"

Youth Development Coach Martin Kuhl spoke of his pride after seeing Academy graduates Jordan Obita and Jake Taylor recently step up to the first team.

Kuhl has been part of the youth coaching set up which has helped a number of young players progress and flourish over the years. He now looks after our under-21s side, and says his aim is to help players get into the first team and then stay there.

"Well, they're good players," he said when asked about Obita and Taylor. "And we've got a lot of talent at the club. It's a dog-eat-dog world in the first team and you've got to be at your best, and if not someone will take your place.

"They've done well and we're really pleased that they've gone into the first team - and the objective is for them to not come back!"

Kuhl's under-21s were on the wrong end of a 4-3 defeat in their last Barclays Under 21 Premier League match, and have recently come up against experienced and talented players such as of Matej Vydra and Jamie O'Hara - all good for our young players' development.

"The last two games have been really good for them. We got beaten by an experienced Wolves side but a lot of our youngsters got a lot of it," he added.

"Against West Brom in the last game we started like a house on fire with two early goals and could have had more. We were disappointed to let them back into it, but it was a learning curve on how to see a game out and the boys will take a lot from it."

You can watch full highlights from the U21s' 4-3 thriller with West Brom if you're a Reading FC Player subscriber, by clicking here. Watch below for Jake Taylor's well taken goal from a free kick.